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Memorial Day is upon us. If you are looking for the best deals, there should be a method to this holiday shopping madness. Check out some tips below to make sure you maximize your time and money.
via CNBC.com
Online versus in-store deals
You should worry less about the differences between in-store and online deals because they are generally similar.
But if you go to brick-and-mortar stores, be sure to keep the notifications for your favorite retail apps turned on because there might be some in-store offers to take advantage of, said Brent Shelton, online shopping expert for FatWallet.com.
Your phone will come in handy at check-out, too, because many stores will match prices offered online by their rivals.
Memorial Day sales bring out the bargains for a grab bag of categories:
Mattresses: “This is the best time of year to buy a mattress,” said Benjamin Glaser, features editor at DealNews.com. Don’t accept anything less than 50 percent off and you should push for more discounts if you can, Glaser said.
Spring apparel: Clothing sales account for roughly 40 percent of all Memorial Day purchases. You can find discounts as much as 90 percent on clothes as retailers are desperate to clear out their backlog. It’s the perfect time to buy a light sweater.
Appliances: Most manufacturers roll out their new models of ovens, refrigerators, washers and dryers in the summer. That means retailers, like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Sears are willing to offer discounts as much as 50 percent to move the old models off the floor.
Summerwear: The big sales for swimsuits and sandals happen over the Fourth of July weekend. You may find some markdowns now, but not the best.
BBQ grills and patio furniture: Hold off on making your backyard paradise. Waiting after the Fourth of July for the biggest deals on these items.
Electronics: Retailers may cut you some slack this weekend, but the greatest discounts appear in late June as stores clear out their inventories for the back-to-school shopping season. Now is not the time to buy that flat-screen TV.
